Inconsistency is dogging Boro, as are missed chances - the contributing factor to Aitor Karanka's side somehow leaving the New York Stadium pointless.

Another setback, another concerning defeat, another boost for promotion rivals, another case of Boro being punished for missed chances.

That was the most frustrating element here. Not the late body blow delivered by a Rotherham side who, credit to them, stuck to their their guns and dug deep. In truth, the longer the game went on, the more predictable that late sucker punch became.

But the exasperation comes in the form of the missed chances, the fact Boro should have had this wrapped up long before Lee Frecklington popped up in the box.

Aitor Karanka's claim that Boro should have won four or five-nil was bang on the money, yet the sole reason they didn't was down to the numerous spurned chances in the first half.

David Nugent should have had a brace while Gaston Ramirez did everything but score. True, Rotherham rode their luck at times but it shouldn't have come to that. With Boro dominant in the first half, they should have ensured that fortune had no part to play. They should have had the points in the bag by the time they strolled in at the break.

Yet once again Boro now find themselves counting the cost of those missed opportunities. And this was another missed opportunity. A big one.

Defeats at Bristol City, Blackburn and now Rotherham. How many more can Boro afford? And to think those are games which Boro should be taking maximum points from.

Once again, Aitor Karanka's side have put pressure on themselves and now the Championship is in Burnley's hands. Considering the advantage Boro once had, that should never have been the case.

But the four point gap Burnley now have will only continue to grow unless Boro find a way to cure this inconsistency.

The element of fear is evaporating as Boro throw away points at relegation threatened side. Another one next up in the form of Charlton. A game in which Boro simply can't afford a slip-up.

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Analysis

Neil Warnock, stood watching on in the technical area, must have feared for his side midway through the first half, for Boro were dominant, threatening to run riot and causing problems every time they went forward.

Gaston Ramirez had the run of the place, David Nugent was getting in behind, Albert Adomah was teeing up opportunities and Adam Forshaw was as busy and creative as he's looked of late.

Nugent blazed over when one-on-one, he missed another glorious chance with a header and Ramirez went close on three occasions.

When one went in the rest would surely follow. But the first never went in. Had Boro managed to grab that early goal, chances are they would have gone on to win this game with relative ease.

Middlesbrough's David Nugent (right) watches his header go wide

Credit to Neil Warnock, he spotted the dangerman in Gaston Ramirez and changed his side's set-up to suit, dragging Greg Halford into a holding midfield role. From that moment on, Halford did a Steve Baker on Ramirez, following his every move and cutting out the supply source.

The second half was a completely different story to the first and Rotherham grew in confidence as the game went on. Their intensity never waned, the tempo never dropped.

The away fans urged Boro to attack but they didn't have an answer to Rotherham's stubborn and solid approach as the game ticked into the late stages.

The goal, when it came, should have been avoided. But it shouldn't have come to that. Boro, by that stage, should have been coasting to three points.

Key moment

It's becoming a recurring theme - a missed chance on the road with the game at 0-0 which eventually proves costly.

And so was the case here, although in this instance it was missed chances.

The best of the night fell to David Nugent. The striker, in for Jordan Rhodes, will undoubtedly be replaying the moment over in his mind as he ran in on goal with only Lee Camp to beat. Instead of seeing the striker wheel away in celebration, Aitor Karanka turned away in frustration as Nugent blazed over.

Big performance

For 45 minutes, Gaston Ramirez was outstanding, a constant threat and a thorn in Rotherham's defence.

The Uruguayan faded in the second half as Rotherham monitored his every move but there were still more than enough signs of just how big a player Ramirez is going to be for Boro in the run-in.

His demoralised the home side in the first half, every flick a classy one, every pass a telling one. He almost scored on three occasions as Boro completely dominated, his free-kick which rebounded off the post was almost inch perfect.

Unfortunately, his contribution wasn't match-winning but this was another example of why he's made the No.10 spot his own.